What is Exenatide

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Exenatide is an injectable diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels. This medication helps your pancreas produce insulin more efficiently. Byetta is a short-acting form of exenatide.

Exenatide is used to treat type 2 diabetes. Other diabetes medicines are sometimes used in combination with exenatide if needed.

This medication guide provides information about the Byetta brand of exenatide. Bydureon is another brand of exenatide that is not covered in this medication guide.

Exenatide may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Exenatide is an injectable diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels. This medication helps your pancreas produce insulin more efficiently. Bydureon is an extended-release form of exenatide.

Bydureon is used to treat type 2 diabetes. Other diabetes medicines are sometimes used in combination with Bydureon if needed.

This medication guide provides information about the Bydureon brand of exenatide. Byetta is another brand of exenatide that is not covered in this medication guide.

Bydureon may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

This medication guide provides information about the Byetta brand of exenatide. Bydureon is another brand of exenatide that is not covered in this medication guide.

Do not use exenatide to treat type 1 diabetes, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin). You should not use exenatide if you have severe kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis), of if you have a severe stomach disorder that causes slow digestion.

You should not use Byetta together with a fast-acting or short-acting insulin, such as insulin aspart (NovoLOG), insulin glulisine (Apidra), insulin lispro (HumaLOG), or regular insulin (HumuLIN R, NovoLIN R, and others). Do not use Byetta together with Bydureon.

You must use Byetta within 60 minutes (1 hour) BEFORE eating a meal. Do not use this medication after eating a meal.

Stop using exenatide and call your doctor at once if you have severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, with nausea, vomiting, and a fast heart rate. These could be symptoms of pancreatitis.

You should not use Bydureon if you have a personal or family history of thyroid cancer, or if you have multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (cancer that can affect the thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal glands).

In animal studies, Bydureon caused thyroid tumors. However, very high doses are used in animal studies. It is not known whether these effects would occur in people using doses recommended for human use. Ask your doctor about your personal risk.

Do not use exenatide to treat type 1 diabetes, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin). You should not use exenatide if you have severe kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis), of if you have a severe stomach disorder that causes slow digestion.

To make sure you can safely use this medication, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

kidney disease or a history of kidney transplant;

problems with digestion;

a history of pancreatitis or gall stones;

a history of alcoholism; or

a history of high triglycerides (a type of fat in blood).

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether exenatide will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication. Byetta can make birth control pills less effective. If you take birth control pills, take your pill at least 1 hour before your Byetta injection.

It is not known whether exenatide passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use Byetta without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not use Bydureon to treat type 1 diabetes, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin). You should not use Bydureon if you have severe kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis), of if you have a severe stomach disorder that causes slow digestion.

You should not use Bydureon if you have a personal or family history of thyroid cancer, or if you have multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (cancer that can affect the thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal glands).

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

kidney disease or a history of kidney transplant;

problems with digestion;

a history of pancreatitis or gall stones;

a history of alcoholism; or

a history of high triglycerides (a type of fat in blood).

In animal studies, Bydureon caused thyroid tumors. However, very high doses are used in animal studies. It is not known whether these effects would occur in people using doses recommended for human use. Ask your doctor about your personal risk.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether exenatide will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using Bydureon.

It is not known whether exenatide passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using Bydureon.

Exenatide Side Effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using exenatide and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

swelling, weight gain, feeling short of breath, urinating less than usual or not at all;

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Exenatide Interactions

You should not use Byetta together with a fast-acting or short-acting insulin, such as insulin aspart (NovoLOG), insulin glulisine (Apidra), insulin lispro (HumaLOG), or regular insulin (HumuLIN R, NovoLIN R, and others). Do not use Byetta together with Bydureon.

Avoid drinking alcohol. It can lower your blood sugar.

If you take any type of antibiotic, take it at least 1 hour before you use Byetta.

You should not use Bydureon together with insulin. Do not use Bydureon together with Byetta.

Avoid drinking alcohol. It can lower your blood sugar.

You may be more likely to have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) if you use exenatide with oral diabetes medications that can lower blood sugar. Before using Byetta, tell your doctor if you use any of these: chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glimepiride (Amaryl, Avandaryl, Duetact), glipizide (Glucotrol, Metaglip), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glucovance), tolazamide (Tolinase), or tolbutamide (Orinase).

Exenatide can make it harder for your body to absorb other medications you take by mouth. Tell your doctor if you are taking:

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with exenatide. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Exenatide can make it harder for your body to absorb other medicines you take by mouth. Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using. Other drugs may interact with Bydureon, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Exenatide Dosage

Use exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results.

Exenatide is injected under the skin. You may be shown how to use injections at home. Do not self-inject this medicine if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles and syringes.

Byetta is usually injected twice a day, before the morning and evening meal. You must use Byetta within 60 minutes (1 hour) before eating the meal. Your Byetta doses should be given at least 6 hours apart. Do not use Byetta after eating a meal.

Byetta comes in a prefilled injection pen with a "Pen User Manual" showing instructions for using the pen and injecting the medicine. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Never share an injection pen with another person. Sharing injection pens can allow disease such as hepatitis or HIV to pass from one person to another.

Your blood sugar will need to be checked often, and you may need other blood tests at your doctor's office. Visit your doctor regularly.

Always keep a source of sugar available in case you have symptoms of low blood sugar. Sugar sources include orange juice, glucose gel, candy, or milk. If you have severe hypoglycemia and cannot eat or drink, use an injection of glucagon. Your doctor can give you a prescription for a glucagon emergency injection kit and tell you how to give the injection. Be sure your family and close friends know how to help you in an emergency.

Check your blood sugar carefully during a time of stress or illness, if you travel, exercise more than usual, drink alcohol, or skip meals. These things can affect your glucose levels and your dose needs may also change.

Your doctor may want you to stop using exenatide for a short time if you become ill, have a fever or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical emergency. Tell your doctor if you have a prolonged illness that causes diarrhea or vomiting.

Ask your doctor how to adjust your exenatide dose if needed. Do not change your medication dose or schedule without your doctor's advice.

Store unused injection pens in the refrigerator, protected from light. Do not freeze, and throw away any medicine that has become frozen. Do not use the medicine after the expiration date on the label has passed.

After your first use of a Byetta injection pen, it may then be stored at room temperature, away from heat and bright light. Do not store the exenatide pen with the needle attached. Use the pen for only 30 days and then throw it away, even if it still has medicine in it.

Use a disposable needle only once. Throw away used needles in a puncture-proof container (ask your pharmacist where you can get one and how to dispose of it). Keep this container out of the reach of children and pets.

If the needle is left on, medicine may leak from the pen or air bubbles may form in the cartridge. Keep your injection pen, pen needles, and all medicines out of the reach of children.

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Bydureon is injected under the skin. You may be shown how to use injections at home. Do not self-inject this medicine if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles and syringes.

Bydureon is usually injected once every 7 days. Unlike Byetta, Bydureon can be used with or without food and given at any time of the day. Follow your doctor's instructions. You may change your weekly dosing day, but do not inject Bydureon on your new dosing day if it has been less than 3 days since your last dose.

Bydureon is a powder medicine that must be mixed with a liquid (diluent) before using it. You must give the injection right away after mixing. If you are using the injections at home, be sure you understand how to properly mix and store the medicine.

Use a different place on your stomach, thigh, or upper arm each time you inject Bydureon. Your care provider will show you the best places on your body to inject the medication. Do not inject into the same place two times in a row.

Your blood sugar will need to be checked often, and you may need other blood tests at your doctor's office.

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can happen to everyone who has diabetes. Symptoms include headache, hunger, sweating, confusion, irritability, dizziness, or feeling shaky. Always keep a source of sugar with you in case you have low blood sugar. Sugar sources include fruit juice, hard candy, crackers, raisins, and non-diet soda. Be sure your family and close friends know how to help you in an emergency.

If you have severe hypoglycemia and cannot eat or drink, use a glucagon injection. Your doctor can prescribe a glucagon emergency injection kit and tell you how to use it.

Check your blood sugar carefully during times of stress, travel, illness, surgery or medical emergency, vigorous exercise, or if you drink alcohol or skip meals. These things can affect your glucose levels and your dose needs may also change.

Your doctor may want you to stop using Bydureon for a short time if you become ill. Tell your doctor if you have a prolonged illness that causes diarrhea or vomiting. Do not change your medication dose or schedule without your doctor's advice.

Store unused Bydureon powder in the refrigerator, protected from light. Do not freeze, and throw away any medicine that has become frozen.

You may store Bydureon at room temperature for up to 4 weeks.

Use a disposable needle and syringe only once. Follow any state or local laws about throwing away used needles and syringes. Use a puncture-proof "sharps" disposal container (ask your pharmacist where to get one and how to throw it away). Keep this container out of the reach of children and pets.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Use the missed dose as soon as you remember, but only if you have not yet eaten a meal. Skip the missed dose if you have already eaten a meal, or if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Use the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if your next dose is less than 3 days away. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

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